Doctors, nurses, and other staff of the University College Hospital UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State have refused to work beyond 4.00 pm from 8am unless power is reconnected at the hospital.
Recall that the UCH was disconnected by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company on March 19, the third time in less than two months, over unpaid debt of N495m for 6 years.
UCH Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, had earlier denied the amount saying the hospital was owing just N27m, but she later admitted the N495m debt on Tuesday.
The workers, through the Joint Action Committee Chairman, Oludayo Olabampe also threatened to go on a seven-day strike if the hospital was not reconnected before Tuesday, April 9.
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Olabampe noted that those on admission would need to be discharged, and there would be no new admissions for now.
“From today (Tuesday), we will be ending our services by 4.00pm. Our services will be only between 8.00am and 4.00pm; no call duties, no shift duties, and no 24-hour services until when power is restored. From downscaling, we will go on a seven-day warning strike after a 14-day ultimatum that started counting on March 27.
“This will affect patients on admission because the nurses that attend to patients in the ward will close by 4.00pm. Imagine leaving the patients to be on their own from 4.00pm till 8.00 am.
“So, there won’t be further admission and those on admission now will have to be discharged. Also know that from 4 pm upward, if there are patients in the theatre for surgery and there is the need for blood, if you get to the blood bank, nobody will attend to you after 4 pm.
“If you need one test or the other, you won’t meet anybody in the laboratory. Radiographers will not be available, and even the dietitians who will be in charge of their meals will not be there for dinner.
“By now, I expect that whoever is having children in the incubator has tried to transfer them to where there is a better power supply,” he said.
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Olabampe joined the hospital in seeking help to offset the N495m bill, saying “UCH does not have the money to pay the debt”.
UCH Public Relations Officer, Mrs Funmilayo Adetuyibi, said the hospital needed help to settle the debt, stating that it was soliciting funds.
“The truth of the matter is that we are owing IBEDC and we need help. Help is the main thing. We are soliciting for funds; help is what we need. The amount is N495m.”
Giving reasons for the disconnection, the Ibadan DisCo said it disconnected the hospital after attempts to engage with the hospital’s management regarding the N495m debt, which it said had persisted for over six years.